Mugasa - Sangalhos (Portugal)
In simple terms, Leitão à Bairrada is Portugal ‘s version of suckling pig. It is often served with potato chips, slices of orange and a salad on the side.
The Bairrada region, famous for its wine production, is also home to some of the finest pigs in the country. But there are places and places to go for Leitão à Bairrada… and then, there is Mugasa.
Mugasa is a temple in the country’s gastronomic scene and the biggest reference when it comes to the preparation of leitão. It was sitting at the top of my bucket list for many years, but the path to get there made me increasingly excited for the meal I was about to have.
While driving through scenic local roads, basically all signs on the side pointed to a restaurant specialized in this dish. For a foreigner exploring the region for the first time, it looked like there was nothing else around there. No restaurant serving different types of food, no gas station, no convenience store. Nothing but the famous leitão à bairrada.. In all of my travels, I had never seen anything like it.
Upon arriving at Mugasa, the place looked a bit fancier than I expected, making me feel slightly underdressed. But the atmosphere was very casual and friendly, making me quickly forget my outfit.
The waiter placed a nice combination of olives, sheep cheese and bread on the table and I promptly ordered a cabidela to get things going. And after I finished it, it was a matter of time before the main attraction came to the table.
The leitão did not disappoint at all. The meat was juicy and tender and very well seasoned with their special sauce that was rubbed on the whole animal.
The preparation of such a special dish requires the techniques to be truly mastered, as it involves intelligently playing with the temperature to ensure a juicy meat and the much anticipated crispy skin. At Mugasa, the animal is then cut in a way that makes it easy for customers to enjoy this delicacy to the fullest. The product is undoubtedly of the highest quality, but the technique required to properly roast in their famous ovens is equally important for such a unique end result.
(Versão em português nos comentários)
